Discover how a special project for amputees has helped Sofyan, who is 16 and from north London, rediscover his love for football and set him on a new path in life.
Project: Arsenal Amputee Football
Established: 2015
Where and when: 5pm-7pm at Coram’s Fields
Partners: English Amputee Football Association
“I first heard about the project through my mum, who got in touch with the club and arranged for me to attend a training session around three years ago. The coaches were brilliant and got me playing amputee football for the first time.
“The moment I heard about the scheme, I knew I had to give it a go. I’ve always wanted to play football, and the first thing I asked after my amputation was, “Can I still play football?” Arsenal helped make that a reality, allowing me to play with other amputees. Since then I’ve grabbed every opportunity that’s come my way.
“I had my amputation a couple of years before joining Arsenal’s programme. I’d been playing football with friends and even started a TikTok account called @one_leg_merchant for my skills. But I hadn’t found a team that was right for me, and I hadn’t played football with other amputees before. I’ve always tried to tackle challenges head-on, so joining the sessions felt like another way for me to push myself after facing adversity.
“I’ve been training nearly every week for years now, which led me to get involved in the England amputee set-up. Last season, I was part of the Ball Squad [pictured above], and this year I enrolled in the NCFE programme to further my education.
“I’ve been lucky enough to work with quite a few fantastic people – Oddy, David, Nico, Luke, Jan, Holly, Martin and Tony, to name a few! They’ve all helped and supported me in different ways. But I’d say Oddy’s belief in me, his trust in my ability as a footballer and his ambition to help me be the best I can be are a big part of why I’m still so involved today.
“Wearing the Arsenal badge is a huge honour for me, as I’ve always been a massive fan. Growing up I watched players like Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, and they really inspired me. Now, being part of the club I’ve always loved is incredible.
“Being part of the club has helped me grow both as a footballer and as a person. The chance to play in the National League, represent the England amputee team and learn from the fantastic coaches and players around me has been amazing. I’ve always been confident, but this experience has helped take that confidence to the next level.
“The future’s looking bright!”
For more information email our accessibility coordinator Luke Howard here.
Sofyan at one of our Amputee Football sessions
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